Biochemical and serologic properties of Escherichia coli isolated from cows with acute mastitis.

Biochemical and serologic characteristics of 184 Escherichia coli isolates from cows with acute mastitis were determined. Trends or patterns unique to bovine isolates were not observed, except for the frequency of adonitol fermentation, which was positive in 84 (45.6%) of the cultures. Growth on Tergitol-7 agar had 3 types of colony morphologic characteristics; of these, the rough and intermediate textures predominated over those with smooth colony surfaces. A large variety of serovars was detected; the majority occurring as single isolates within a herd. Few K antigens were typeable. Only 2 isolates contained the K99 antigen. Seemingly, E coli organisms isolated from cows with acute mastitis cannot be distinguished as a specific pathogenic group on the basis of biochemical and serotest reactions.